First, make sure you are safe
Before anything else, think about where the intruder might be. If you come home to a door that has been forced, a window that has been broken, or a lock that has clearly been attacked, do not walk in as if nothing happened. Someone could still be inside. Step away from the entrance, go to a safe place such as a neighbor's home or your car, and call 911 if you believe a crime is in progress or that anyone is inside.
If you were inside when the attempt occurred, move to a safe room, keep your phone with you and call 911. Do not confront anyone. Property can be replaced, and people cannot.
If the damage is evidently old, for example you notice scratches on a lock after a weekend away and nothing appears disturbed, you are in a different situation, but it is still worth treating as a possible crime. Take a moment before you touch the lock, look at the doorframe, and think about who else has had access. A calm, systematic approach protects your safety, your belongings and your ability to make an insurance claim later.
Call the police before the locksmith
In most cases, the right order is police first and locksmith second. A report is the official record that something happened, and it is the document that insurance companies, landlords and property managers typically ask for. Police may want to see the scene as it is, including the damaged lock, the frame and any marks left behind, before anything is repaired.
In Broward and Palm Beach counties, you can usually call the non-emergency line of the local police department or sheriff's office if no crime is in progress and nobody is in danger, or 911 if there is any immediate threat. If you are unsure which to use, tell the dispatcher what you found and let them decide. They may send an officer to take a report, photograph the door or collect evidence.
Ask how long the officer expects to take, and ask when it will be acceptable to repair or replace the damaged hardware. Do not assume that you can start right away. If officers have collected what they need, they will usually say so. If you must secure the door for safety before they can arrive, tell them what you plan to do and why.
Document everything before anything is touched
Documentation protects you. Before the damaged lock is removed or the door is closed, take photographs from several angles: a wide shot of the door and frame, a close shot of the lock face, close shots of any scratches, dents, drill marks or cracks, and a shot of the strike plate and the frame around it. If the door has splintered near the latch, photograph that too.
Make notes while the details are fresh: the date and time you discovered the damage, when you last saw the door intact, who has keys, whether any alarm triggered, whether neighbors saw or heard anything, and what, if anything, is missing. If you have a doorbell camera or other security camera, save the footage right away, because some systems overwrite recordings.
Keep every receipt from the repair. Ask the locksmith to list in writing what was damaged and what was replaced. Insurers often want this documentation, and it is much easier to collect while the details are fresh. Our guide to locksmith work documentation and receipts explains what a useful record looks like, and locksmith service after a claim or police report covers working with insurers and officers.
Reading the signs of an attempted entry
Damage can look many ways, and describing it accurately helps both police and the locksmith. Common signs of an attempt include scratches or gouges around the keyway, a lock face that is bent, cracked or pulled away from the door, a deadbolt that spins loosely or no longer turns, a split in the wood near the latch, a strike plate that has been pulled loose, and drill holes or marks around the cylinder.
Not every scratch means a break-in. Normal use leaves marks, and a worn lock can look rough without anyone having touched it. A distinction a professional can help with is whether the damage fits normal wear or evidence of force. Fresh bright metal where there was dull finish, tool marks and a door that has been moved out of alignment are more consistent with an attempt.
A lock that has been tampered with may also have internal damage that is not visible from outside. A cylinder that has been forced or attacked may still seem to work but could be weakened, which means it may not resist another attempt. That is a reason to replace compromised hardware rather than simply cleaning it up and hoping for the best.
Securing the home the same day
Once police have what they need, the priority is to make the home secure. A door that cannot be locked is an open invitation, and burglars sometimes return to a place that is known to be vulnerable. If a locksmith cannot arrive right away, ask whether there is a temporary way to secure the door safely, and arrange for someone to stay on the property until it is done.
A locksmith responding to this kind of call will first want to confirm who you are and your right to the property. That is not suspicion, but a standard step in any lock service. You will be asked for photo identification and something that links you to the address. Tenants should also contact the landlord or property manager, since changes to a lock on a rental often need the owner's approval. Condo and HOA residents should also tell management, since exterior doors may be subject to rules.
Be honest with the dispatcher about what happened. Tell them that the lock was damaged in a break-in attempt, whether police have been to the scene and whether the door is currently closed and secure. That lets the technician arrive with suitable hardware and tools rather than making a second trip.
Replace, do not patch, compromised hardware
It may be tempting to straighten a bent plate, push a loose lock back into place or just swap one part. In most situations, that is the wrong approach. A lock that has been attacked is no longer in its tested condition. Even if it turns, internal parts may be bent or cracked, and the door and frame may have been weakened.
A technician will look at the whole assembly: the cylinder, the bolt, the strike plate, the frame, the screws, and the door edge. Sometimes the answer is to replace the lock and reinforce the strike and frame. Sometimes it is also to repair splintered wood around the latch. Where the door or frame is badly damaged, a carpenter may need to be involved, and a good locksmith will tell you so.
New hardware is also a chance to improve. Consider a higher-grade deadbolt, a longer throw, a reinforced strike plate with long screws that reach the framing, and key control that makes copying harder. You can read more in deadbolt grades and throw length, strike plates and door reinforcement and high-security cylinders.
Keys, copies and who may have access
If the attempt involved a lock being forced, the keys are not necessarily at risk. But if someone got inside, or if there is any chance a key was taken, copied or lost, rekeying or replacing the locks is the safe step. A thief who has a key and your address has everything needed to return.
Think about who else has keys: family members, tenants, roommates, cleaners, contractors, neighbors, former partners and anyone who once had a copy. The more people on that list, the more reason to change the key set. Rekeying makes old keys useless without necessarily replacing the lock hardware, and can be an efficient way to restore control. See what is rekeying and duplicate keys: who has copies.
If the lock is too damaged to be rekeyed, replacement is the answer. Either way, you should end up with a set of keys that you control and a list of who has them. Do not forget the other entries: garage doors, side doors, sliders, storage units, gates and mailboxes that may share the same key.
Other points of entry
A lock that was attacked is only one part of the picture. Attempted entries often involve more than one door or window, and the entry point that failed may not be the one that gives the most useful information. Walk around the outside with someone else, if it is safe, and look at sliding doors, windows, garage entry doors, patio doors and gates.
Sliding glass doors are a frequent weak point in Florida homes. Their latches are small and their tracks can be lifted if no security bar or pin is installed. Window latches are often light, and old locks on jalousie or louver windows may offer little resistance. A locksmith can talk through simple upgrades, such as security bars, pins and better latches. See sliding door locks and security bars and window locks and latches explained.
Lighting, landscaping and visibility also matter. Overgrown shrubs near a door give cover, dark entries invite attempts and unlit side yards are popular. Those are not locksmith items, but they are part of a sensible response.
Business and rental owners: extra points
If the damaged lock is on a rental property, tell the landlord or manager the same day. They may have their own reporting duties, their own insurer and an approved vendor, and they may want to see the scene before repairs. Tenants should not assume they may change locks without permission. A rental door that is found damaged between tenants should also be documented with dated photographs so that responsibility for the damage is clear.
If the lock belongs to a shop, an office or another business, the same order applies: personal safety, then police, then documentation. Business owners should also check cash handling areas, back doors and storage, and notify their insurer. Our guide to security after a business break-in goes through what a manager should look at.
What to expect from the call and the visit
When you call, describe the damage and say whether police have been involved. Say whether the door is closed and whether it can be locked. Give your location in Broward or Palm Beach County, the type of door, and the kind of lock if you know it. The dispatcher will explain that there is a service call charge, which is covered before anyone is sent. Quotes are given by phone, and a complicated job may need an on-site visit before a final figure.
At the visit, the technician will check your identification and the document that links you to the address. They will inspect the damage, explain what they see and propose options, including replacing the lock, rekeying, reinforcing the strike and checking other doors. You decide what to approve, and you should receive a written record of the work.
Afterward, keep the police report number with your paperwork, and give a copy of the locksmith's receipt to your insurer or landlord if needed. If something feels off, such as pressure to approve extra work or a refusal to explain, you may decline and call another provider. When you are ready, call and we will help you work out the next step.
Questions people ask
Should I call the police or a locksmith first after a break-in attempt?
Call the police first. A report documents the incident and may be required by insurers or landlords, and officers may want to see the scene before repairs. If there is any sign that someone is still inside or that you are in danger, call 911 immediately and stay away from the property until responders arrive.
Can I repair the lock myself right away?
It is better to wait until police have what they need and to have the hardware assessed by a professional. A lock that has been attacked may have hidden damage. Photograph the damage first, then arrange for a technician to replace compromised parts and secure the opening properly.
Do I need to rekey if no one actually got inside?
Not always, but it is worth considering. If any key may have been lost or copied, or if the lock is damaged, rekeying or replacing the lock restores control. A technician can help you decide based on what happened, who has keys and the condition of the hardware.
Will insurance cover the lock replacement?
That depends on your policy, and a locksmith cannot say what your insurer will do. Keep the police report, photographs, written notes and the locksmith's receipt, and contact your insurer or agent for guidance. A written record of what was damaged and replaced generally makes any claim easier.
What proof will the locksmith ask for if my own door was attacked?
Expect to show a photo ID and a document that connects you to the address, such as a lease, utility bill or mortgage statement. Tenants should also contact the landlord or property manager. The step protects residents by making sure only people with a right to the property can authorize lock work.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
Related pages
Understanding what the damage tells you about the next step
The way a lock was damaged often indicates how much of the hardware you can trust. A bent strike plate and a cracked frame suggest force applied to the door itself, while a chewed keyway or a lock that spins freely points to the cylinder being attacked. Marks around the latch might mean someone tried to slip it open. A technician reading these signs can explain which parts are compromised and which might be sound. Ask them to describe what they see in plain words, and consider asking them to point to it on your door so you understand it.
Do not assume that a lock which still turns is safe. Internal parts can be weakened or partly broken while the outside looks normal, and a lock that has been forced once is more likely to fail under the next attempt. The responsible approach is to inspect it thoroughly and explain the options, whether that means replacing a cylinder, replacing the full lock, or reinforcing the door. The tradeoffs, the scope and any quote are explained before work begins, so the decision remains yours. Small details such as the door material and the age of the hardware often change the plan.
Ask also about the surrounding structure. A new lock fastened into a splintered frame offers little real protection, so repairing the wood or adding reinforcement may belong in the plan. Humid South Florida air can soften wood over time, which can make an old frame more vulnerable than it looks. Think about the doors that were not touched, too. If the intruder tried one, they may try another. A calm survey of the whole property, done with a technician, gives you a clear picture of what needs attention.
Living in the home between the break-in and the repair
There is often a gap between the event and the day the door is fully repaired, and it can feel uncomfortable. During that time, take practical steps to feel and be safer. Keep valuables and important documents with you or stored elsewhere. Make sure every working lock is engaged, including window latches and the bar in a sliding door track. Let trusted neighbors know what happened so they can notice anything unusual, and keep your phone charged and within reach, particularly overnight. You stay in charge of the decision throughout, and you can pause to think it over.
Be wary of strangers who appear unprompted offering to fix the door, since opportunists sometimes follow reports of break-ins. Choose who you call, ask them questions, and expect them to ask about your authority to request work. Take photographs of the damage before anything changes. If the police or your insurer need to see the condition, speak with them about timing, so that repair does not erase evidence they want to review. Your safety matters more than any record, but it is often possible to do both. Humid coastal air makes older hardware less predictable, so mention how long the lock has been in place.
Emotional recovery is real, too. A forced door can leave people uneasy in their own home for weeks. Restoring a sense of security usually starts with concrete steps: sound locks, a sturdy frame, and a clear idea of who has keys. Rekeying after a break-in removes uncertainty about old copies. Call us to confirm availability, and take your time deciding about larger changes. Doing the essential work first and the rest once you feel steadier is a sensible way to move forward. Keeping the conversation calm and specific helps the other person give you accurate guidance.